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Man detained in Dubai over negative dog grooming service review

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Man detained in Dubai over negative dog grooming service review

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November 13, 2024February 12, 2023
Man detained in Dubai over negative dog grooming service review

Craig Ballentine, 33, was arrested three weeks ago in Abu Dhabi and then was taken to Dubai (Picture: SWNS)

A man has been detained in Dubai for leaving a negative online review of a dog grooming service he once worked for.

Craig Ballentine, 33, from Cookstown, Northern Ireland, was arrested three weeks ago when he landed in Abu Dhabi for a short vacation to visit friends and was then transported to Dubai.

His family has hit out at the arrest and has called on the Foreign Office and the ambassador to the United Arab Emirates to help.

His mum, Margaret Ballentine, said: ‘The thought of Craig going to prison over a Google review is just horrendous, we are all suffering sleepless nights and anxiety.

‘It’s just not something I ever imagined possible.

‘This is going too far. He didn’t use bad language, he just expressed his views which is what you’re supposed to do on review sites.

‘We call on the government, the foreign office and Dubai authorities to please let our son come home.’

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has been urged to intervene over the matter.

Craig Ballentine. Photo released November 8 2024. A man is facing two years in prison in Dubai - after posting a negative review of a dog grooming business from his home country.Craig Ballentine, 33, accepted a role last year in a canine salon in Dubai, where he worked for nearly six months.Autism support worker Craig, from Belfast, was then diagnosed with fibromyalgia and needed to take days off work.He informed his boss and sent her his doctor's note but against Dubai employment law his they reported him as "absconded" with authorities, his lawyers say.This led to his unemployment and a travel ban on his passport that took two months and thousands of pounds to remove, allowing him to return home to Northern Ireland.
There are calls on the government to help get him released (Picture: Detained in Dubai/SWNS)

Campaign group Detained in Dubai said Mr Ballentine is facing prison because of the UAE’s cybercrime laws.

Radha Stirling from the organisation said the laws prohibit online criticism.

He said: ‘Craig has been advised by local lawyers there is almost zero chance of the case against him being dropped.

‘The UAE’s recently enacted cybercrime laws are a nightmare for foreigners. It is sufficient for a complainant to simply tell police that someone posted something offensive or rude.

‘Craig needs to get home and get to work. It’s atrocious that authorities are allowing such frivolous criminal reports to entangle visitors in the system,’ she said.

‘We have reached out to Craig’s local representative, Michelle O’Neill, to implore her to make diplomatic representations to the UAE’s ambassador and FCDO.

‘We hope she can assist in the same way Ireland helped Tori Towey come home.’

A Sinn Fein spokesperson said Ms O’Neill was aware of the case and was making representations to the UAE embassy in London on behalf of Mr Ballentine.

‘Her office remains in contact with the family to provide support and advice,’ the spokesperson said.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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